Why Are Some Goals More Difficult to Achieve Than Others? A Logical Perspective on Goal Achievement in Negotiation

Keywords: Negotiation, goal achievement, goal difficulty, propositional logic

Abstract: Negotiating parties typically experience that some of their goals are asier to achieve than others. This may be due to external factors, such as the relative priority parties assign to their goals, or internal factors related to the properties of the goals themself. This article presents, and tests by means of a case study, a new measure of goal achievement based on the logical properties of goals. The measure provides a new theoretical explanation for why certain goals are more difficult to achieve than others. Further, it shows that the degree of information considered in a negotiation influences the expected probability of goal achievement. Practitioners can use the measure to evaluate goals when preparing for a negotiation. Using the example of an employment negotiation, the article illustrates how the measure can help negotiators to create realistic expectations about the chances that their goals will be achieved.